Water Quality Task Force Recommendations for Clean Water

1. Water Quality Task ForceRecommendations for Clean Water Bobbi Wilson, Government Relations Associate April 3rd, 2019

2. Farmers and farm organizations have a range of reactions to the growing pressure on agriculture to reduce runoff. … and, farmers have a lot on their minds outside of water quality.

3. Wisconsin Net Farm Income in 2010-2018F $1.7 B -6% Good production year, but income depends on prices 2019 Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum - Presentation by Dr. Paul Mitchell

4. Expenses up 4.2% (interest, fuel, feed & labor) 2019 Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum - Presentation by Dr. Paul Mitchell

5. Wisconsin Led the Nation in Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Filings for 10/1/17 to 9/30/18 2019 Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum - Presentation by Dr. Paul Mitchell http://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/caseload-statistics-data-tables

6. Government Payments up 18% • Price/Revenue-based payments ARC/PLC -$4.6 B • Market Facilitation Program (MFP): +$4.7 B • Disaster Payments +1.6 B MFP & Disaster ARC & PLC 2019 Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum - Presentation by Dr. Paul Mitchell

7. Impaired Waters in Wisconsin

8. Non-point Source Pollution Agricultural runoff creates: • Water pollution • Bacteria • Nutrients • Chemicals • Toxic algal blooms • Hypoxia or “dead zones”

9. 1.8 million Wisconsinites get their drinking water from private wells • 94,000 households are drinking from nitrate-contaminated wells • Nitrates pose a public health threat, particularly to pregnant women and infants

10. The biggest threat to agriculture and the biggest threat to water quality are one in the same …that threat is Excess

11. Clean Water Recommendations • Research • Remedies • Prevention: • Incentives • Enforcement

12. Clean Water Recommendations: Research County-by-county Groundwater Testing and Mapping Example: Minnesota County Geologic Atlas • Geology and groundwater resource data • Quality, quantity, and sensitivity to pollution • Coordination between MGS, DNR, and DHS • All county residents can access the same data

13. Clean Water Recommendations: Research Budget Recommendations: • Add 1 FTE ($150,000-$200,000) at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey to update groundwater maps • Provide $2.5 million/year for county-by-county groundwater mapping

14. Clean Water Recommendations: Remedies Improve DNR Well Compensation Grant Program • Increase number of eligible households • Raise income eligibility requirement • Households with nitrate-contaminated wells are eligible regardless of livestock ownership • Prioritize households with highest levels of nitrate contamination Budget Recommendations: • Increase funding for well testing and remediation from $400,000 to $2 million/year

15. Clean Water Recommendations: Prevention Managed Grazing: • Farm profitability + water quality protection • Lowers input costs, access to higher-value markets • Reduces soil erosion, runoff, nutrient pollution

16. Clean Water Recommendations: Prevention Restore Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (2000-2010) • Prevents 55,179 tons of soil / 441,429 pounds of phosphorus per year from entering Wisconsin waters • Program created 100,000 acres of new well-managed pasture AND over 100,00 acres of improved pasture management Budget recommendations: • Add 1 FTE at DATCP dedicated to Grazing Education and Coordination • Restore Grazing Land Conservation Initiative competitive grants at $2 million/year • Provide $200,000/year in Grazing Research and Education competitive grants for University and Extension grazing research

17. Clean Water Recommendations: Prevention Cover Crops • Reduce nutrient leaching, soil loss, and runoff • Improve crop productivity and nutrient efficiency Example: Iowa Crop Insurance Demonstration Project • $5/acre State crop insurance premium discount for cover crops • 160,000 acres enrolled • 340 insurance agents involved

18. Clean Water Recommendations: Prevention Greater enforcement and higher standards • Restore local control of livestock siting • Allow areas with sensitive groundwater and geologic factors to adopt more stringent livestock siting standards • Increase CAFO monitoring and oversight at DNR Budget Recommendations: • Add $300,000 per year for CAFO monitoring and oversight at DNR

19. Budget Recommendations • Add 1 FTE ($150,000-$200,000) at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey to update groundwater maps • Provide $2.5 million/year for county-by-county groundwater mapping • Increase funding for well testing and remediation from $400,000 to $2 million/year • Add 1 FTE at DATCP dedicated to Grazing Education and Coordination • Restore Grazing Land Conservation Initiative competitive grants at $2 million/year • Provide $200,000/year in Grazing Research and Education competitive grants for University and Extension grazing research • Add $300,000 per year for CAFO monitoring and oversight at DNR • Continue funding the Producer-Led Watershed Grant Program at $750,000 per year. • Fully fund County Land and Conservation staffing grants at $12.4 million/year

21. For more information, please contact: Kara O’Connor, Government Relations Director 608 514-4541 koconnor@wisconsinfarmersunion.com or Bobbi Wilson, Government Relations Associate 608 234-3741 bwilson@wisconsinfarmersunion.com